Mind-your-own-business

Mind-your-own-business or baby’s tears, Soleirolia soleirolii (syn. Helxine soleirolii) is a creeping perennial with tiny rounded leaves. Despite looking pretty in cracks in paving, it re-grows from the smallest stem sections and can soon get out of control. It is especially difficult to control in the lawn.

Mind-your-own-business is often a weed. Credit: RHS Herbarium.

Quick facts

Common name Mind-your-own-business, baby’s tears Botanical nameSoleirolia soleirolii (syn. Helxine soleirolii)Areas affected Beds, borders and lawnsTiming Seen year round; treat from spring to late summer

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What is mind-your-own-business?

This plant is a native of Corsica and Sardinia and is occasionally grown in rock gardens and in greenhouses. It readily colonises crevices in dry stonewalls but can be a nuisance in borders and lawns, where it is regarded as a weed.

Control

Non-chemical control

In borders and other parts of the garden, mind-your-own-business should be eradicated as thoroughly as possible by burying it deeply with mulch, or hoeing it off repeatedly in dry weather

Patches of mind-your-own-business in lawns are best carefully removed with a trowel or hand fork, in April or September. After removal, re-establish the soil level and re-sow bare patches with grass seed, or lay a patch of turf taken from elsewhere in the garden

Where mind-your-own-business is widespread in lawns, lightly scarify several times during March and April and again during September to weaken it. Feed the lawn regularly to encourage turf vigour and density

Chemical controls

Lawn weedkillers

Mind-your-own-business is resistant to all lawn weedkillers approved for garden use.

Glyphosate

Glyphosate (e.g. Scotts Roundup, SBM Job Done General Purpose Weedkiller or Doff Glyphosate Weedkiller) can be used successfully to treat mind-your-own-business, best applied as a spot treatment (Scotts Roundup Gel) directly to the weed. For best results follow these tips:

Lightly bruise the foliage with the back of a rake or by crushing it underfoot before applying glyphosate, as this will improve effectiveness

Shield low-growing shrubs and perennials from the spray until it has dried onto the weed, or use a ready-to-use spray because it is easier to target directly onto the weed

In lawns, spot-treat patches with a ready-to-use spray to limit turf damage; a gel formulation (Scotts Roundup Gel) may be particularly useful

Weedkillers containing glyphosate can also be used on paths and drives (e.g. Doff Path & Patio Weedkiller Ready to Use or Westland Resolva Path & Patio Weedkiller Ready to Use)

Inclusion of a weedkiller product does not indicate a recommendation or endorsement by the RHS. It is a list of products currently available to the home gardener.